Alabama
Grant Nelson to use final year of eligibility, return to Alabama basketball
Alabama’s 2024-25 roster will have another major starter back. Grant Nelson announced on his Instagram Monday afternoon that he plans to use his fifth and final year of eligibility in Tuscaloosa.
It’s the second year in a row Nelson contemplated a future in the NBA Draft but ultimately didn’t keep his name in the pool of eligible players; he rescinded his name last spring before transferring to Nate Oats and the Tide; The deadline for this year’s draft passed on April 28.
A 6-foot-11 forward, Nelson posted 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game — he led Alabama in rebounds and blocks. He battled a leg injury in December and struggled through foul trouble consistently. But the lottery-pick potential that coaches saw in Nelso manifested sporadically like a 20-point outing at Georiga or 22 points, eight rebounds and six blocks against Florida.
Most notably, Nelson turned around an NCAA Tournament slump with a historic showing against North Carolina in the Sweet 16. He scored 24 points, including eight in a row late to upset the Tar Heels and propelled the Tide to its first Final Four in school history. Nelson, who was named to the All-Region team, followed up with 19 against eventual champion UConn.
Alabama now has two pieces of its healthy, late-season starting lineup back: Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. Aaron Estrada graduated and Rylan Griffen transferred to Kansas, leaving UA to wait for Mark Sears’ decision. UA’s frontcourt depth has taken a hit since the season ended with backup Nick Pringle transferring back home to South Carolina and Mohamed Wague departing after one season.
Oats added three pieces via the transfer portal, all guards, and doesn’t appear to be done looking for more talent. The Tide hosted Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi on Monday. Incoming four-star freshman Aiden Sherrell is also listed at 6-foot-10.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.
Alabama
Roll Call, May 16, 2024: Alabama Swimmer Qualifies for Olympic Trials
Alabama swimmer Liberty Williams competed in the Olympic Trial Cut on Wednesday, finishing the 1500m freestyle with a time of 16:42.82. That time was good enough to qualify her for Olympic Trials later this summer.
Williams, a senior, is finishing up her lone season at Alabama after transferring from Louisville, where she spent the previous three years. Trials for the Olympic swim team will take place from June 13-15, with the chance to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
May 16, 1964: A pair of football players earned All-SEC Western Division status in baseball. Outfielder Mickey Andrews, who led the team in hitting with his .324 average, was chosen along with catcher Buddy French. Both were expected to be key members of the football team in the fall.— Bryant Museum
“Dixie Howell, the human Howitzer from Hartford, Alabama blasted the Rose Bowl dreams of Stanford today with one of the greatest exhibitions football has every known.”— Grantland Rice at the 1935 Rose Bowl.
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